Building panels

Abstract

A building panel incorporates blocks ( 11 ) of a low density material contained within a surrounding wire support cage ( 12 ). The cage is formed from a plurality of wire trusses ( 1 ) which are spaced apart such that each truss separates adjacent low density blocks, and the trusses are held together by strapping wires ( 14 ) which are encased within layers of render ( 15, 16 ) in use. The truss has opposing longitudinally extending reinforcing wires ( 2, 3 ) to which the strapping wires ( 14 ) are connected, and intermediate wires ( 4 ) which are preferably formed in a zig-zag. Each truss includes at least one additional wire ( 5 ) which extends longitudinally of the truss.

1 . A building panel comprising blocks ( 11 ) of a low density material contained within a surrounding support cage ( 12 ), in which the cage comprises a plurality of wire trusses ( 1 ) extending along a length of the panel, the trusses being spaced apart such that each truss separates adjacent low density blocks, in which each truss comprises a pair of substantially parallel longitudinally extending reinforcing wires ( 2 ,  3 ) located on opposite sides of the low density blocks, and the trusses are held together by strapping wires ( 14 ) joined to the reinforcing wires on opposite sides of the panel,
 wherein each truss ( 1 ) includes a plurality of intermediate wires ( 4 ,  5 ) which travel along the length of the truss between the low density blocks ( 11 ).   
     
     
         2 . A building panel according to  claim 1  in which the intermediate wires include at least one transverse wire ( 4 ) which meanders between the reinforcing wires ( 2 ,  3 ) as it travels along the length of the truss. 
     
     
         3 . A building panel according to  claim 2  in which the or each transverse wire ( 4 ) travels in a zig-zag path along the length of the truss. 
     
     
         4 . A building panel according to  claim 2  in which the intermediate wires include at least one tie wire ( 5 ) which extends longitudinally of the truss, spaced from the reinforcing wires ( 2 ,  3 ). 
     
     
         5 . A building panel according to  claim 4  in which the or each tie wire ( 5 ) is joined to a transverse wire ( 4 ). 
     
     
         6 . A building panel according to  claim 5  in which the or each tie wire ( 5 ) is joined to a zig-zag transverse wire ( 4 ) part-way between the zig-zag bends. 
     
     
         7 . A building panel according to  claim 5  in which the or each tie wire ( 5 ) is joined to two or more transverse wires ( 4 ). 
     
     
         8 . A building panel according to  claim 3  in which the longitudinally extending reinforcing wires ( 2 ,  3 ) are inset from the bends in the zig-zag transverse wires ( 4 ). 
     
     
         9 . A building panel according to  claim 2  in which the cut ends of the transverse wires ( 4 ) are joined to the reinforcing wires ( 2 ,  3 ). 
     
     
         10 . A building panel according to  claim 4  in which the cut ends of the tie wires ( 5 ) are joined to the transverse wires ( 4 ).